UTGOING Limerick boss Justin McCarthy has secured a nomination for the position of the county’s senior hurling manager despite a controversial two-year reign in charge on Shannonside.

EX-LIMERICK captain TJ Ryan last night launched a fierce defence of Limerick’s embattled hurlers, insisting they’re not unmanageable. However, the Garryspillane man said there’s only one resolution to the crippling dispute – Justin McCarthy’s resignation.

A WARTS ‘n all new book on Limerick hurling which has raised hackles in official circles will be launched next week by county hurling sponsor JP McManus.

BRIAN BEGLEY acknowledges the biggest test for Limerick hurlers comes in three weeks time against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.

HARDLY the start Dave Keane wanted, but the new Blackrock coach will still be happy his charges are through to the next round of the Evening Echo Cork County SHC after a very poor clash with Castlelyons at Carrigtwohill last night.

Dungannon 0 Shannon 27

WHICHEVER way you look at it, Limerick hurling is desperately in need of a real boost.

CONSIDERING they've had four times as many managers as championship wins this past three seasons, it's hardly surprising that Limerick are approaching Sunday's Munster SHC meeting with Tipperary in a fragile state of mind.

BEHIND the scenes pressure, resulting from two heavy League defeats to Cork and Tipperary, hastened the departure of Padjoe Whelahan as Limerick hurling manager yesterday.

THE chairman of Limerick County Board Denis Holmes said last night that there was no immediate threat to Padjoe Whelahan’s role as manager of the county senior side.

THERE has been little support to calls to alleviate player burn-out by abolishing the U21 grades in hurling and football.

EAMONN CREGAN never said so in public, but you always sensed that when he was in charge of Limerick, he was on a personal crusade to win an All-Ireland title that would compensate for the one Offaly snatched in 1994.

WHY must it always be Limerick? As crisis once again grips the GAA Shannonside, this is the questions asked by their long-suffering fans.

FORMER Clare hurling selector Tony Considine is being lined up to take over as manager of Limerick club Garryspillane.

THE Limerick stars at the centre of the dual player controversy may be left to decide on their preferred code for 2004.

Successful Birr boss Pat Joe Whelahan will continue to manage the Offaly champions despite taking on the Limerick senior hurling manager's position.

Successful Birr manager Pat Joe Whelahan has been appointed as the new Limerick senior hurling manager following a unanimous county board vote.

Limerick hurling chiefs will appoint Pat Joe Whelahan as their new county senior manager in succession to Dave Keane tonight.

THE GAA at national level needs to take notice of the growing pressure on inter-county managers to deliver instant success, Clare GAA chairman Fr Michael McNamara said yesterday.

Limerick hurling chiefs are ready to offer successful Birr manager Pat Joe Whelahan the chance to follow in Dave Keane's footsteps as senior county boss.

LEGENDARY Birr boss Padjoe Whelahan is set to replace Dave Keane as manager of the Limerick senior hurling team.

SEAN BOYLAN’S position as Meath manager was strengthened last night when he received a vote of confidence from the county board.

Limerick are poised to replace former senior hurling manager Dave Keane with another Cork man following reports that Sean O'Brien has emerged as a likely candidate to take over on Shannonside.

WITH the hurling managerial positions still to be filled in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, speculation is rife about the successors to Dave Keane, Cyril Lyons and Michael Doyle.

WITH the management of their hurling teams in turmoil, a course in crisis management would appear to be a priority for the County Boards of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.

GAA chiefs in Limerick remain confident that they will have filled the county's vacant senior hurling management post within the next month.

LIMERICK County Board chairman Pat Fitzgerald last night hit back at the county’s former hurling manager Dave Keane.

Former Clare supremo Ger Loughnane has not ruled out the possibility of taking over from Dave Keane in the Limerick senior hurling hotseat.

FORMER coach Tom Ryan has said he is interested in taking over the Limerick senior hurling post following the sacking of David Keane after serving just one year of a two-year term.

Limerick hurling has been rocked by the removal of manager Dave Keane and his selectors following a county board meeting tonight.

UNDER pressure Limerick hurling manager Dave Keane will learn his fate at tonight’s county board meeting.

Limerick GAA chiefs have denied that the county's executive committee is at loggerheads over the appointment of a new hurling manager, with Dave Keane's future hanging in the balance.

Limerick hurling boss Dave Keane has been hit with the bombshell news that up to his five of his players are reportedly close to withdrawing from the panel in defiance of the manager.

LIMERICK county board chairman Pat Fitzgerald is to meet with the senior hurling management team today to discuss criticism by club delegates of the team’s performance this season.

GAA president Sean Kelly supports the idea of reducing ticket prices for next Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC replay between Cork and Wexford.

GAA delegates in Limerick will table a series of questions shortly to County Board chiefs on the recent spate of rumour and innuendo following the hurlers’ disappointing senior and U21 Championship performances this season.

Moves are afoot in Limerick to bring a number of dissenting parties together and restore calm in the Treaty County after a number of high profile bust-ups this year.

LIMERICK County Board chairman Pat Fitzgerald has lashed out at what he describes as an orchestrated campaign to undermine the Limerick senior hurling team and its manager Dave Keane.

POST-MORTEM is too harsh a word for the kind of soul-searching that normally goes on in a county after a championship defeat, but it probably just about fits the bill in Limerick this week.

Offaly 1-18 Limerick 0-14

BR>Diarmuid O’Flynn

TIPPERARY’S Allstar defender Eamon Corcoran will be eligible to play in the Guinness All-Ireland hurling qualifier game against Galway on Sunday at Pearse Stadium.